Download group participation form - Graphic Arts Association

Graphic Arts Association
August, 2014
REGIONAL AFFILIATE CERTIFICATE GROUP (RACG)
GROUP CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Sponsored By: Graphic Arts Association
In addition to:
Printing Industries of New England, Printing Industries Alliance, Printing and Imaging Association of
Mid America, Printing Industries of Ohio/Northern Kentucky, Printing Association of Florida,
Printing Industries of the Carolinas, Printing Industry of Minnesota, Printing Industries of
Illinois/Indiana, Printing Industries of the South, Pacific Printing Industries, Great Lakes Graphics
Association, Printing Industries of Michigan, Printing Industries of Arizona/New Mexico, Printing
Industries Association of Southern California, Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, Printing and
Graphics Association MidAtlantic, Printing Industries of San Diego, and Printing Industries of
Georgia, and Visual Media Alliance.
________________________________________________________________________
Group certification under the FSC logo is available to qualified, eligible, print manufacturing
companies who are members in good standing with their sponsoring regional PIA affiliate.
Companies applying for group certification must have annual sales less than $5 million in Forest
Product Business (generally commercial printing, package printing, etc). Total sales can exceed $5
million only if there are divisions separately conducting and invoicing mailing, website
development/hosting, fulfillment, etc. Sales volumes will be subject to audit by program auditors.
There is no difference between individual certificates and the group certificate as regards the
use of the logo, the requirements for organization, and the use of certified papers on projects utilizing
the FSC logo.
Because of the aggregating, the costs for certification are substantially reduced from the single
certificate process. The group guidelines allow a subset of all companies to be fully audited (by
random) and all participating firms will receive an “internal”, or overview audit on an annual basis.
All firms will be visited!
The group, RACG, has engaged a Group Manager to provide training, oversight, and
operations assistance to all participating members and a separate, certified auditing firm to conduct the
full audits. Using his experience and knowledge, our group manager will be able to reduce the time
and effort currently required of individual certificate holders and applicants. He will assist
participating companies in reducing the administrative burden of initial and ongoing FSC certification.
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GAA staff will be a resource and advocate for this program as well. Feel free to contact us
throughout your involvement for assistance.
Interested member companies need to complete and submit the Group Enrollment Form and
fee before they are scheduled for a visit. This form should be submitted to GAA who will forward to
PINE, who is acting as the group coordinator, and will forward your information to the group
manager. Because of the dynamic nature of this group, additions to the group other than at renewal
time may be limited so lead-time is important. The group can generally join companies to the group
within 4-8 weeks of receipt of an enrollment form and check.
Group FSC certification fee is currently $1,695 per year for one location inclusive of travel for
auditors and group managers. (Some distant locations and or circumstances will require
additional travel fees) Companies interested in joining the group are requested to submit the full fee
with their application in order for us to release forms and to schedule plant visits for certification.
Participating companies will be individually responsible for compliance with conditions
relative to utilization of the FSC logo and audit requirements. Any liability for failure to do so will rest
solely with the individual non-compliant company and not with the RAGC, its collective participants,
or sponsoring organizations.
Participating companies recognize that ongoing participation in RACG is contingent upon
maintaining membership in good standing in GAA and complying with all FSC guidelines for Chain
of Custody Certification.
If you are interested in participating in RACG, please provide all of the information on the
enclosed form and return it with your check (made payable to GAA so we can forward to the group
manager to initiate the scheduling of your initial visit.
For further information or to apply to enroll in RACG, please contact Melissa Jones at GAA.
CONTACTS
Group Manager
Chris Gibbons
American Green Consulting Group,
126 Oak Hill Road
Shelburne, VT 05482
Phone: (800) 693-4490
Fax: (866) 365-4895
[email protected]
Melissa Jones, President
Graphic Arts Association
1210 Northbrook Dr, Suite 200
Trevose, PA 19053
Phone: (215) 396-2300
Fax: (215) 396-9890
[email protected]
www.graphicartsassociation.org
Group Coordinator
Jim Tepper, President
PINE
5 Crystal Pond Rd
Southborough, MA 01772
[email protected]
508-804-4101
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REGIONAL AFFILIATE CERTIFICATE GROUP (RACG)
GROUP CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Enrollment Form
I have read the RACG Overview and understand the following conditions listed below
are required for participating in the group:

My company’s gross sales of forest products (printing) is less than $5,000,000 per year and I can
demonstrate such to RACG auditors and consultants:

My company is a member in good standing of GAA and ongoing participation in RACG is contingent
upon remaining so.

RACG fees are $1,695 per year for one location and include auditor travel expenses. Full payment is
required to initiate participation and to schedule your plant visit. (Please make checks out to GAA)

My company is individually responsible for compliance with conditions relative to FSC logo utilization
and audit requirements. Any liability created by our failure to do so remains our sole responsibility.

RACG reserves the right to bill a “travel surcharge” for companies whose location or circumstances
significantly increases auditor/consultant travel costs. Any possible surcharge will be determined and
disclosed immediately to the participating company. If deemed excessive by the company, all
participation fees will be refunded.
Company______________________________________ Phone (
Address_________________________________________ Fax (
)_______________
_ )______________
City, St, Zip______________________________________________________________
Co. Contact__________________________________ Cell (____)___________________
Title __________________________________ email____________________________
Signature ____________________________________________________________
# Employees _________________ Annualized Sales ____________________________
Are you currently certified? Yes______
No_____
If so:
Certificate #_________________ Expiration________________________
Have you changed certifiers within the past 4 years? Yes____ No____
Affiliate Use Only
Submitting Affiliate ___________________________________________________
Date of Enrollment ________________ Contact ____________________________
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